Afghan war killing civilians despite ustaliban peace deal. However, they have had a significant presence in and impact on the country. So give afghanistan a try you will love the adventure. Culture of afghanistan history, people, clothing, women. Mongol invasion the mongols devastated afghanistan, killing the population of major city centers, causing the population to revert to an agrarian rural society 17471826. A successful outcome in afghanistan requires balancing tribal, religious and government structures. As one who lived in afghanistan, i wish i had read this book before going. In 1747, the pashtun, the dominant ethnic group in afghanistan, established their. Nato agreed to turn over all defense to afghan forces by 2014. Cultural interaction some simple rules of behaviour in. Afghanistans crossroads position in asia has subjected it to constant invasion and conquest throughout its long recorded history.
Food and cultural practices of the afghan community in australia a community resource food is central to the cultural and religious practices of most communities. Avaliable format in pdf, epub, mobi, kindle, ebook and audiobook. As we look at the counterinsurgency coin operations in afghanistan, knowledge and understanding of afghan culture can greatly facilitate dealing with the local population. The arab invasions influenced the culture of afghanistan, and its preislamic period of zoroastrian, macedonian, buddhist and hindu past has long vanished. Usingthe style questionnaire, this research collected and compared the leadership orientations of. These dimensions are based on the work of the wellknown dutch anthropologist geert hofestede. His successor ahmad shah, the first afghan king, brought to afghanistan its first real semblance of unity. Javid ahmad, a native of kabul, is a program coordinator for asia at the german marshall fund of the united states. Worth reading to the person interested in afghanistan beyond a casual tour book info. Mar 11, 2011 the current campaign in afghanistan has lasted for over nine years and the taliban has grown into a formidable insurgency. Nato sent surge forces to fight the taliban in southern afghanistan. While acknowledging the sacrifices and the historic struggles, rightful jihad and just resistance of all people of afghanistan, and respecting the high position of the martyrs for the freedom of afghanistan, 4. Guide to travel, doing business, and studying in afghanistan culture, greetings, gestures, etiquette, protocol, negotiations, giftgiving, and more.
The arabs introduced islam in the 7th century and the turks briefly made afghanistan the center of islamic power and civilization at the beginning of the 11th century. It provides a basic understanding of a rich culture, a dynamic and living history, and a complicated insurgency. In afghanistan, however, the mullah may not understand. Speakers of the language are called pashtuns or pukhtunspakhtuns historically. The history of afghanistan is a history of war and conflict even up to present day. Afghanistan held parliamentary elections amidst charges of fraud. In setting priorities for womens health post2015 millennium development goals, understanding the contextspecific pressures on staff is key to more effective programme interventions and sustainability. Key to success in afghanistan is understanding the afghan mindset. Afghanistan 101 ehsan m entezar pdf afghanistan on free shipping on qualifying offers.
Participants understanding of the prt mission the interviewee, a usaid foreign service officer, was the usaid field program officer and senior civilian representative in kunar province, afghanistan, from april 2008 to july 2010. That knowledge and understanding will set the stage for applying the diverse afghan culture in operations planning and execution. In afghanistan, cultural cluelessness can be deadly the. Less than 25 percent of afghans live in urban areas compared to 67 percent. Afghan culture has been around for a very long time, tracing its history to at least the time of the achaemenes empire. Apr 11, 2020 elephants pil in pashto and fil in dari are not indigenous to afghanistan. Duane security in afghanistan is difficult due to geography and the vast diversity of several distinct cultural, linguistic, and ethnic groups, posing serious threats both to the rest of the world and also to its own people. As a national language of afghanistan, pashto is primarily spoken in the east, south, and southwest, but also in some northern and western parts of the country.
Becoming a perpetual student of culture learning will greatly increase chances of success in understanding the plethora of nuances to afghan culture. It is mostly a tribal society with different regions of the country having its own subculture. At the end of this guide, therefore, the marine will find suggestions for further reading to dig deeper into the history, culture, and language of afghanistan. Notwithstanding the international objectives to eradicate child marriage because of the severe health and social consequences it bears, this practice continues to flourish in developing countries. Durrani empire this was the beginning of the modern afghan state and the pashtun ruling class 10. Understanding afghan culture by ehsan m entezarbook detail. This book is a must read for anybody in this type ehan position. Jun 25, 2019 worth reading to the person interested in afghanistan beyond a casual tour book info. Starting from the war of state construction and establishing a centralized authority between 18801901. The afghanization of afghan security small wars journal. Amazon advertising find, attract, and engage customers. From pakistan to afghanistan institute for the study of war. The exact number of speakers is unavailable, but different estimates show that pashto is the mother tongue of 4560% of the total population of afghanistan. Afghanistans culture can be traced as far back as 4000 bc with stunning prehistoric monuments standing to witness to its rich tribal history, many of which are still evident today outside of kabul.
Preserving and enhancing afghanistans culture is vital to the cohesion of society. This paper explains why a lack of cultural awareness condemns counterinsurgency operations to almost certain defeat, and explores the implications for the campaign in afghanistan. For most, their career would have been a family decision often made for economic or status reasons. The afghan culture has been around for over two millennia, tracing back to at least the time of the achaemenid empire in 500 bce. Targeted assassinations began with election and aid workers and proceeded to mullahs and tribal elders who support the cent ral government, there is also intimidation of the public, still struggling with years of war and the most severe drought in living memory. General jeffrey schloesser, summarized the key to stability in afghanistan as development and really increasing demonstrably a quality of life for the normal afghan villager and their family and then linking the governance at the village. Male and female roles are strictly delineated and traditional religious customs are very much adhered to. May 18, 2019 afghanistan 101 ehsan m entezar pdf afghanistan on free shipping on qualifying offers. The arabs introduced islam in the 7th century and the turks briefly made afghanistan. Cultural awareness and counterinsurgency in afghanistan. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the leadership tendencies of afghan and japaneserespondents by exploring their task and relationship orientations. Amir explains the buzkashi tournamenton the first day of spring, new years daywas, and still is, afghanistans national passion.
Afghanistan translates to land of the afghans or place of afghans in the nations official languages, dari and pashto. The afghan government has begun to implement an anticorruption strategy, but significant problems must be addressed, may 2018. Follow us a community built resource for crosscultural etiquette and understanding. Special forces killed osama bin laden on may 1, 2011. Collins understanding war in afghanistan is an excellent primer on a hugely complex conflict. Understanding the fact that afghanistan is a single and united country and belongs to all ethnicities residing in this country, 5. The first of them seem to have arrived in 305 bc when an indian ruler sent 500 war elephants to the hellenistic empire, which then stretched across western asia, in exchange for control of most of what is today modern afghanistan.
Afghans arent mysterious, inscrutable people you cant understand. For an expatriate entering afghanistan, it is important to know that the afghan culture is about politeness, respect and hospitality. Even now, conflict has had its impact on the afghan culture which has influenced education. It is known in persian literature as afghani, afghani, and in hindustani literature as pa.
More specifically, this dimensional analysis discusses power distance pd, uncertainty avoidance ua, individualism ind, and masculinity mas in the afghan national culture. To analyse the culture of a kabul maternity hospital to understand the perspectives of healthcare providers on their roles, experiences. Policy congressional research service summary the united states, partner countries, and the afghan government are attempting to reverse recent gains made by the resilient talibanled insurgency since the december 2014 transition to a. Be understanding if afghan women want to cover their heads when going out in public. A successful outcome in afghanistan requires balancing tribal. Part of the afghan culture includes traditional competitions. The lack of sustained results and ongoing challenges in the region require u. The word afghan historically has been used to designate the members of an ethnic group also called the pashtuns, but afghanistan is multicultural and multiethnic. A fair introduction to afghan culture and interpersonal dynamics. Understanding war in afghanistan ndu press national defense. That means understanding their culture and engaging the afghans with respect to the system of governance that has worked for them in the past. Predatory and corrupt government and a culture of impunity are more fundamental causes of the governments loss of legitimacy in kandahar than are its failure to provide services or fill manning rosters.
The culture of afghanistan has persisted for over three millennia, tracing record to at least the time of the achaemenid empire in 500 bce. Afghanistans crossroads position in central asia has subjected it to constant. Afghanistan 101 is an introduction to afghan culture. Afghanistan 101 is a mash up of academic study and analysis, personal anecdotes, and a. Afghanistan was not united under one king until 1737 when nadir shah of persia conquered it. The war in afghanistan should be studied in relation to political culture, political economy and broader national and regional history. Joseph collinsa veteran afghan watcher, national war college professor, and respected strategistguides the reader expertly through the geography, history, and recent dynamics. Afghanistan was not included in hofstedes original or subsequent studies. Afghanistan 101 is a mash up of academic study and analysis, personal anecdotes, and a practical tips aimed at nonafghans who plan to work in afghanistan. Populationcentric coin has been misinterpreted as getting them to like us, with no genuine understanding of the root causes of the afghan insurgency. Unnamed white house officials suggested to the press that lower levels of u. Understanding afghan culture book by ehsan m entezar.
Joseph collinsa veteran afghan watcher, national war college professor, and respected strategistguides the reader expertly through the. After the formation of the modern nationstate between 18801929, afghanistan has witnessed at least seven major conflicts. Later conquerors were moslems who converted the country to the moslem religion. Afghan culture 2 brief history afghanistan s crossroads position in central asia has subjected it to constant invasion and conquest throughout its long recorded history. Afghan culture 2 brief history afghanistans crossroads position in central asia has subjected it to constant invasion and conquest throughout its long recorded history. Culture wtn afghanistan 31 december 1991 afghanistan is a country which has not only been physically devastated by. At the end of this guide, therefore, the marine will find suggestions for further reading to dig deeper into. Secondly, afghan cultural islam conflicts with the fundamentalist islamic movements that influence the current insurgency. Because of its prime location between russia, the persian gulf, and the indian ocean, the soviet union was eyeing it with a view to expanding. Learning either dari or pashto will increase your chances of learning more of the afghan ways 500%.
Department of state, whose support made this culture profile possible. While there are many published studies onthe japanese work culture and leadership practices, research about afghan working adults is limited. The family is the most important institution in afghan society. Leadership orientation of afghan and japanese respondents. Mirwais hotak followed by ahmad shah durrani unified afghan tribes and founded the last afghan empire in the early 18th century ce. Dressler was invited to afghanistan in july 2010 to conduct research for general david petraeus following his assumption of command. An introduction to afghanistan culture afghan agriculture.
First, understanding the specific culturalreligious mindset of local afghans is essential to successful operations within the population. Forcing them to submit to foreign rule, the people of afghanistan fought back to protect their land, as a result creating a war that lasted for ten years. The manifestations of these cultural dimensions explain the. For this reason, understanding and appreciating the food and food practices of another culture is part of building your own cultural competence. Excerpt from an air force majors library of englishtodari translated words and phrases that he produced in collaboration with his afghan national army. When visiting even the poorest home, at least a cup of tea. The white house is dropping strong hints that the number of american troops in afghanistan after 2014 may fall below 10,000, possibly even below 5,000. The hospital culture closely mirrored the culture and core values of afghan society. The state was formed by the political expansion of pashtun tribes in the middle of the eighteenth century but was not unified until the end of the nineteenth century. Jan 04, 2008 afghanistan 101 is an introduction to afghan culture. Understanding the strength of afghan customary law. Obama replaced mcchrystal with general david petraeus.
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